Microplastics: Challenges and roles as a vector – A literature review

Abstract

The increase in the global population has led to a rise in the manufacturing and utilization of plastic products. Finally, the amount of plastic waste present in the environment has increased. With the increase in plastic waste and its conversion into smaller particles, the amount of microplastics (MPs) in the environment has increased. MPs pose a significant threat to human health and the environment. They are formed from the decomposition of plastic products under the influence of some process and they are known to carry a variety of pollutants, including heavy metals (HMs), antibiotic-resistance genes, microorganisms, and other contaminants. They also contain plastic additives. These particles also threaten the survival of aquatic organisms. Therefore, a lack of proper management and not having a strategic plan to control the use of plastics will affect the future life of humanity and the ecosystem. The objective of this mini_review article is to investigate the challenges posed by MPs, their role as a vector for pollutants, and the harms of MPs to Humans, Aquatic Animals, and the Ecosystem. In the end, it can be concluded that to address these challenges, it is crucial to continue efforts to prevent global pollution, use degradable additives and polymers, and reduce the production and consumption of plastic by providing good management programs.

Keywords

• MPs
• Interactions
• Human health and the environment
• Heavy metals
• Vector